Combined ruler and paper-cutter



(No Model.)

A. R. 'MQDONALD.

COMBINED RULER AND PAPER CUTTER.

Patented Dec. 21, 1886.

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UNITE FFICEO Amw COMBINED RULERI AND PAPER-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,800, dated December 21, 1886.

Application filed February 26, 1886. Serial No. 193,361. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER R. Mc- DONALD, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Implements for Desk Use; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved combination implement in the nature of a ruler and paper-tearer for use in offices or about a desk; and it consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination implement containing the several features of construction embraced in,

my invention. Fig. 2 isja plan view, from beneath, of the same, with parts in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon line 00.00 of Fig. 2.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the main portion or body A of the implement comprises a cylindric part, A, and

a flat plate or Wing, A connected therewith in such manner as to extend laterally therefrom, the said parts A A as herein shown, being formed of a single piece of sheet metal -bent to the required shape.

B is a thin plate or blade placed beneath and overlapping the plate A and having sliding connection with the said plate in such manner that it may be extended longitudinally at one end of the part A,or moved into a' sliding connection between the plate or blade.

B and the main part A of the implement may be made in any desired or preferred manner.

In the particular construction herein shown as one practlcal way of carrying my invention into effect said sliding connection isaformed by means of a longitudinal slot, at, in the plate or wing A which slot is engaged with headed studs 2) 1) upon the plate or blade B. The side edge of the bladeB and the outer or free edge of the plate A are made flush, or are arranged both for convenience in ruling and measuring.

and to enable the edge of the ruler to firmly hold the paper beneath it when said edge is used as a guide in tearing the paper ina wellknown manner, the lower marginal part of the said plate orblade B is beveled, as indicated at 12, Figs. 2 and 3, the beveled surface preferably being made to form nearly a sharp edge upon the said plateor blade at such an inclination as to permit the extreme edge of the blade to come in contact with the surface upon which the ruler rests, as clearly shown inFig. 3. V

The wing or plate A will preferably be provided at its edge with a suitable scale, (indicated at 0,) which scale will preferably be continued upon the plate or blade B, as indicated at O, the division-lines of the two parts of the scale being made to properly register with each other when the plate or blade B is extended its full length from the main part A of the implement. The scale marked upon the device may be any one suitable for the purpose-as, for instance, an inch-scale, or one adapted to indicate type-measurements, such as is used in printing and advertising offices.

An implement comprising the features of construction above described is of obvious advantage, as giving a ruler, scale, and papertearer of a convenient length, which may be extended to a greater length when it is desired for any purpose. To make an implement thus constructed of greater utility, however, I preferably sharpen the rear edge of the blade or plate B in its portion which is extended beyond the main partof the implement, so as to .form a cutting-edge, as indicated at B, this cutting-edge being adapted for use as a cutter for paper of the kind used in severing the uncut leaves of a book,or for sharpening pen ter is terminated in a point, and is thereby made of a form convenient for use as a letteropener. The sharpened or knife edge B, furthermore, may be continued in the form of a curved edge, B at the extreme end of the plate B, adapted for erasing ink-lines, and for similar purposes, the curved edge being arranged to intersect the front or ruler edge of the blade at an acute angle, so as not to interfere with the utility of the tapered blade as-a letter-opener. When constructed to form cutting-edges B B,as above set fo rth,the plate or blade B will usually be made of steel, but may be made of other material suitable forthe purpose. By forming the said knife-edges upon the sliding plate,as above set forth and shown, the important advantage is gained that when the blade B is in a retracted or folded position the cutting-edges are overlapped by the plate A, and are thereby entirely protected from injury, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

- When the main part or body A of the ruler is made of sheet metal, as herein shown, the part A thereof will be tubular, and as a further improvement in a ruler of the general class shown, :when the latter is provided with a tubular part, A, of any material, I construct the said tubular part of proper size to receive a lead-pencil of the usual diameter, and provide within the said tubular part a sliding block, F, having a knob, f, extending through a suitable longitudinal slot, a, in the said part A, whereby the said block may be moved to bring it in position for holding the pencil with its point protruding to a desired extent from the tube, said blockbeing provided with springarms f, engaging the inner walls of the tube, or other suitable friction device for holding it in the position in which it is placed. In order to hold the pencil from falling out of the tube when said pencil does not exactly fit therein, a spring-tongue, a, may be formed from the metal of the tube in such manner as to press upon the pencil at or near the point at which it emerges from the tube, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In connection with the device shown for holding alead-pencil, it is entirely obvious that the spring-tongue a may be made to act with "sufiicient pressure upon the pencil to hold the latter without the use of the sliding block or follower F; and it will be noted,furthermore, that the said tubular part may be used mer'ely as a receptacle or protector for a point of a pencil which is usually used separately from the implement, and in such case the slot a and follower F are not necessary, and a spring, a, or similar device,alone will be used to temporarilyretain the pencil in place or prevent its falling out when inserted in the tube.

The ruler herein shown is further provided with a pencil-erasing rubber block, D, secured in the end of the tube A opposite that at which the pencil is inserted, thus affording a convenient means for erasing pencil-marks in connection with the other parts of the device.

It is to be understood that as far as the operation of the plate or blade B is concerned, when said blade is provided with a cuttingedge', or is shaped to form an envelope-opener,

the main part or body A of the rulermay be without a cylindric or tubular part, A, and said cylindric part, when present,instead of being open and tubular, may be closed at its ends, or solid, and made of any construction or 7 Parmaterial found desirable or preferable. ticular advantages are, however, gained by the employment of the cylindric part A, or an equivalent rib or projection adapted to sustain the rear edge of the ruler above the surface upon which it rests, in connection with ablade, B, havingsliding engagement with the ruler, and beveled, as shown, for the reason that an extensible ruler capable of eliicient use as a paper-tearer, and possessing improved features as a ruler and scale, is thereby obtained.

It will be observed, furthermore, that, inasmuch as the beveled surface b upon the plate or blade Bmay form a cutting-edge sufliciently sharp for cutting or tearing folded paper, an implement capable of use as a ruler, scale, paper-tearer, and paper-cutter may be made withoutthe knife-edge B upon the back of the said blade B. An implement possessing said knife-blade has, however, the advantage of affording a means for sharpening pencils and a more desirable cutting-edge for paper, while the formation of the end'portion,B,of the said cutting-edge in a manner suitable to form an ink-eraser makes the entire device of greater utility.

I claim as my invention 1. A combination implement comprising a main parthaving a cylindric portion or rib at its back edge, and a movable part or blade having sliding connection with the said main part, said blade being beveled upon its edge adjacent to the edge of the said main part,substantially as described.

2. A combination implement comprising a main part,and a movable part or,blade having sliding connection with said main part, and provided with a straight edge in alignment with the edge of said main part, said movable ,part or blade being formed with a cuttingedge upon its back part in its portion project ing beyond the said main part when the blade is extended, substantially as described.

3. A combination implement. comprising a main part or section having a cylindric portion or rib at its back edge, and a movable part or blade having sliding connection with the said main part and provided with astraight edge in alignment with the edge of the said main part, said blade being beveled at its straight edge, and the said main part and substantially as described.

'blade being marked with a continuous scale,

main part, and a movable part or blade having sliding connection with the said main part, and provided with a straight edge in alignment with the edge of said main part, said blade being provided with a cutting-edge at its rear margin and tapered toward its free extremity, to form an envelope-opener, substantially as described.

5. A combination implement comprising a main part, and a movable part or blade having sliding connection with the said main part, and provided with astraight edge in alignment with the edge of said main part, said blade being provided at its rear marginlwith an inclined cutting-edge, curved near the end of the said plate or blade to form an erasing-edge, substantially as described.

6. A combination implement comprising a main part having a cylindric portion or rib at its rear edge, and a movable part or blade havingsliding connection with said main part, said blade being provided with a cutting-edge at its margin adjacent to the said cylindric portion or rib, substantially as described.

7. A combination implement comprising a main part having a cylindric portion or rib at its rear edge, and a movable part or blade having sliding connection with the said main part, said blade being provided with a straight edge in alignment with the edge of the main part, and beveled upon itslower surface adjacent to said edge, and being also provided with a cutting-edge at its rear margin, or that adjacent to the rear edge of the said main part, substantially as described.

8. A combination implement comprising a ruler provided with a tubular part, A,adapted to receive and hold a pencil, and having a spring friction device for holding a pencil in a desired position therein, substantially as described.

9. A combination implement comprising a I 

